Thompson Hotels
“Thompson Hotels is an edgy, sophisticated, refined-cool brand that brings very active and locally relevant bars and nightlife to the guest experience, but it’s deigned in a way that is more residential in style. The interior guestrooms, lobbies, and public areas almost look like someone’s home. It’s a collection of pieces and furnishings that were collected over time, but they all have a certain point of view; most are coming from a midcentury modern point of view and very layered, but somewhat understated. I think of Thompson as a moody, nighttime brand—a little bit sexy, a little bit masculine.”

Joie de Vivre Hotels
“Joie de Vivre is very approachable. Each of the hotels is a brand of one. They are created individually, but the Joie de Vivre DNA is brought into each property through an attitude: It’s about bringing joy, happiness, and life into the guest experience. This is a lighthearted, fun, daytime brand. Each one is different. There isn’t any common design thread that runs through them.”

Alila Hotels & Resorts
“Alila is a Singapore-based, ultimate luxury resort brand. They’re very refined—the design is contemporary, but each feels indigenous to its place. The materials and style are consistent with the locale that it’s in. They’re very suited locally to the environment. They’re in these remote locations, and they’re all reflective of the place that they’re in, not just in the look and feel, but in the immersive, one-of-a-kind experiences that it offers its guests.”

Tommie
“Tommie is our bun in the oven—we’ve been incubating Tommie for a few years now, and a lot of people like to refer to it as being for millennials, but we don’t like to say that. I don’t really believe it’s for millennials, but for the youthfully minded—a group of people who share an attitude around the notion of essentialism. It’s about the experience and the functionality—not about square footage in the guestroom or about 2,000-thread-count sheets. The experience is really programmed in the public spaces with things like listening lounges, libraries, and great restaurants and bars.”

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/commune-ceo-sounds-off-on-differentiating-brands/feed/0Checking in with Commune Hotels and Resortshttp://lodgingmagazine.com/checking-in-with-commune-hotels-and-resorts/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/checking-in-with-commune-hotels-and-resorts/#respondMon, 12 Aug 2013 22:31:47 +0000http://www.lodging.dreamhosters.com/?p=2625Commune Hotels and Resorts signed a definitive agreement last week to consolidate the company to sole ownership. Through his private equity firm Geolo Capital, Commune’s chairman John Pritzker bought the 50 percent interest in the company held by Jason, Michael, and Lawrence Pomeranc, the three brothers who co-founded Thompson Hotels in 2001. Thompson and Joie de Vivre came together to form Commune in 2011. Coming out of the deal, Commune has 33 hotels with 14 ...

]]>Commune Hotels and Resorts signed a definitive agreement last week to consolidate the company to sole ownership. Through his private equity firm Geolo Capital, Commune’s chairman John Pritzker bought the 50 percent interest in the company held by Jason, Michael, and Lawrence Pomeranc, the three brothers who co-founded Thompson Hotels in 2001. Thompson and Joie de Vivre came together to form Commune in 2011. Coming out of the deal, Commune has 33 hotels with 14 in the pipeline. The Pomeranc brothers will keep 60 Thompson, Thompson LES, and 6 Columbus in New York City, Thompson Beverly Hills, and Hotel Victor in Miami.

The news comes on the heels of another big announcement from Commune—a third brand, Tommie Hotels, is slated to launch in 2015 with two ground-up hotels in New York City. Pritzker and Commune CEO Niki Leondakis recently spoke with Lodging about the company’s transition and what’s in store for the future.

Lodging: What led to the consolidation of Commune to sole ownership?

John Pritzker: The consolidation allows us to be much more nimble in our decision-making and execution. Any time you’re in an environment where you have partners you have to get their buy-in as well. Now there’s a better alignment between capital and management. Also it allows us to focus on multiple brands, including our new brand, Tommie.

Niki Leondakis: Working with John quickly to make decisions that move the company forward is such a positive. We can now partner together to create this multi-brand platform with three different brands offering customers from different demographics and psychographic profiles options that will give us the ability to capture guests throughout their entire life cycle and execute on each of those three brands with a common vision.

Lodging: What are Commune’s main goals for its three brands, Joie de Vivre, Thompson, and Tommie?

Leondakis: What Commune brings to all three brands is that entrenchment in the local community, the neighborhood, the culture, and the environment that the hotels are in. Whether it’s Tommie, Joie de Vivre, or Thompson, they will all be of the place and will offer highly inspired design. Great design is certainly not unique in the lifestyle segment but we’re combining that with the connection to place and thoughtful, friendly, caring service for the guest.

Pritzker: Our goal isn’t size; our goal is continuity in the ethos of the company. What I’m focused on is not becoming a behemoth or homogenized across the brands. It can be very tempting from a purchasing standpoint to lump things together to get greater velocity.

Lodging: About a year ago, Geolo Capital teamed up with AJ Capital Partners to buy the former Chicago Athletic Association building and convert it into a luxury hotel. Would you consider other joint venture partnerships in the future for individual properties?

Pritzker: Absolutely. The CAA project was a very special one for me. Having grown up in Chicago, having a sensitivity and a bent toward architecture, and the fact that it sits across from Millennium Park made that one irresistible. That was a special case where everything came together and we just decide to put majority of the capital in. We can scale downward and offer sliver equity, we can do mezz lending, we can do bits of key money. It’s as the situation requires. But we have that economic flexibility, which is a huge advantage for us.

Lodging: What is the company’s expansion plan?

Leondakis: Our growth plans include domestic and international growth. And our targets for that growth are Europe, Asia, and Canada. More to come on that expansion, but we’re working on it as we speak.

]]>http://lodgingmagazine.com/checking-in-with-commune-hotels-and-resorts/feed/0CEO Sit Down With Niki Leondakishttp://lodgingmagazine.com/ceo-sit-down-with-niki-leondakis/
http://lodgingmagazine.com/ceo-sit-down-with-niki-leondakis/#respondMon, 11 Mar 2013 15:53:04 +0000http://29fe6047-20f3-4b41-9cb9-3ca47dfdfd82Last year Joie de Vivre and Thompson hotels merged to form Commune Hotels and Resorts, with Niki Leondakis, formerly of Kimpton, stepping in as the new company’s CEO in November. Other big announcements included acquisition of the historic Chicago Athletic Association building and the development of a new micro-hotel concept that will debut in Manhattan. While it was difficult to leave Kimpton behind after being there nearly 20 years, Leondakis said she couldn’t pass up ...

]]>Last year Joie de Vivre and Thompson hotels merged to form Commune Hotels and Resorts, with Niki Leondakis, formerly of Kimpton, stepping in as the new company’s CEO in November. Other big announcements included acquisition of the historic Chicago Athletic Association building and the development of a new micro-hotel concept that will debut in Manhattan. While it was difficult to leave Kimpton behind after being there nearly 20 years, Leondakis said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to assume leadership of such a dynamic and growing company. Here’s what else she had to say to us.

1. Lodging: As Commune’s CEO, what are your main objectives for the next few years?

Leondakis: Commune has a tremendously talented and motivated team. We are in high growth mode, with exciting new deals in development for both the Thompson and Joie de Vivre brands, in multiple key markets. My goal is to steer the course and enhance their efforts with a system, focus, and structure that will grow us into our target markets. My main objectives are to position our existing talent to be successful, to augment our team with strategic new hires, to refine the quality of our operations and guest relationships, and to build the foundation of and awareness for the Commune brand.

2. Lodging: In what ways will your background as the former COO of Kimpton lend credibility with hotel investment companies, as Commune seeks financial partners to expand its portfolio?

Leondakis: I think that my background reassures hotel investors that Commune will take a flexible and sustainable approach to profitability. This means an intense focus on top line revenues through sophisticated sales and revenue management leadership, an emphasis on building customer loyalty through the experience, a commitment to excellence in day-to-day hotel operations, and expertise on building the operating efficiencies required in boutique hotels.

3. Lodging: How will you ensure that Joie de Vivre and Thompson maintain their own identities while also building a strong reputation and identity for Commune?

Leondakis: While we’re focused on maintaining the integrity of each of the individual Commune brands, we are also strengthening synergies across the portfolio to leverage our expanding geographic reach, enabling developers and owners to benefit from the effectiveness and efficiency of our scale. At the same time, our guests can continue to rely on the imaginative and playful nature of JdV Hotels and the luxurious sophistication of Thompson, but they will notice a service philosophy, thoughtful amenities, and a commitment to operations excellence that will be consistent across all Commune brands.

4. Lodging: What management and acquisition deals are in the works? Can you give us an update on Commune’s new hotel concept?

Leondakis: Our development team has quite a few deals in the pipeline. Most recently, we announced our acquisition of the Crown building in Miami Beach, which we will renovate and brand as the Roosevelt. This project represents the first extension of what will be an independent Roosevelt brand within the Commune portfolio. This brand has its roots in Thompson’s Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles and will replicate the social vibrancy of that iconic property.

Additionally, we are in the process of developing one of our latest acquisitions, the historic Chicago Athletic Association building in Chicago. Along with Thompson Chicago launching later this year, this will be yet another iconic property added to our portfolio, which will put us in a strong position in this very important market.
The concept for our new brand is a new type of hotel that’s efficient, affordable, and beautiful. Complementing Commune’s existing brands, this “micro-hotel” concept will be Commune’s entry-level brand that will be defined by intelligence and simplicity, by responsible luxury rather than decadence. We are very close to announcing details regarding the first location in Manhattan.

]]>NEW YORK—John Pritzker, Co-Chairman of Commune Hotels & Resorts named Niki Leondakis to serve as the company’s new CEO. Ms. Leondakis joins Commune from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant Group where she most recently served as president and chief operating officer.

After nearly 20 years with Kimpton, Ms. Leondakis makes the move at a pivotal time of expansion for Commune Hotels & Resorts. Niki’s breadth of experience brings key operational leadership, as Commune’s forty-six hotel portfolio is poised to become increasingly influential and one of the more diverse lifestyle brands in the hospitality industry.

Pritzker commented, “Niki’s work at Kimpton exhibited her passion and balanced approach to leadership. Having Niki partner with us at this time gives her a unique opportunity to impact all aspects of the company during a period of rapid expansion.”

The selection of Ms. Leondakis, an accomplished operator who successfully served Kimpton in multiple leadership positions, speaks to Commune’s commitment to service, efficient operations and the idea that its hotels should reflect the local color. She joins a growing team of industry leaders in development, finance, design and marketing which will lead the company’s expansion into the key markets of London, Miami, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, Cabo San Lucas, Hawaii, and the heart of Silicon Valley – Palo Alto, California.